Monday in MO

I'm checking in to say, hello.

Hello.

What have I been up to?

Not much. Except...

Funny thing happened at the mailbox Friday, I got back a short story I had submitted. Not unusual. I noticed someone else had written my return address on the envelope. That's unusual. I never--ever forget to self-address my return envelope. But, I did and I felt really stupid.

In the house, I pulled the rejection letter halfway out and tossed the envelope on the table. That's when I noticed handwriting. An editor wrote that she had read my story twice, it was confusing, but thought the idea was interesting. She told me if I rewrite and resubmit, she would read it again...no promises.

I instantly focused on the rejection and that my story was confusing. Not until I was several miles away from home (didn't run away, just had to go shopping) that one of my "voices" (yes I promise to seek help) said to me,  "AN EDITOR WROTE YOU A PERSONAL NOTE."  Oh yeah.

I should send her money.

A different voice asked, "How many times have you received handwritten notes on your reject letters?"

"This makes three," I answered back to the "different" voice.

Isn't it great to be rejected in such a manner? (This is me asking you, in case you're wondering.)

I'm rewriting my little story.


On another note, it's so stinking cold here that:
  • I'm planning to travel to Alaska soon for the warmth.
  • Kiki Dee (the outdoor cat) has bought a parka.
  • Santa decided it's too cold here to visit and I'm disappointed because I've been very good this year.

Tonight, I am presenting a workshop called:  The Incredible Race to Employment.  Our school district got a grant for after school activities. Some of the money could be used to offer the adults of the community mini workshops.

I'm looking forward to it. Hope it's not called off due to it might only going be 5 degrees tonight. Of course we are talking about MO and the weather changes every 15 minutes.

Did I mention I'm moving to Alaska for a warmer climate?

What's the weather where you are? If you say warm, I will SERIOUSLY hunt you down and then...enjoy it.


Comments

Rewrite and resubmit! That's wonderful, Teresa!

Well, the high here will be 34 in NC today. That's PRETTY cold...for here. We're usually around 50 this time of year.

Hope the Arctic air eases up soon!
Now that's cold...
Hey, get excited about that note! And start rewriting.
Joanne said…
Unseasonably warm here this past weekend, in the 50s and pouring buckets of rain, which should have been snow :/ Send some cold this way, I'll take it!

Congrats on the editor's note. Sounds promising, and best wishes with the rewrite :)
daveterry said…
Congrats on the editor's note. Receiving constructive feedback from an editor is a writer's dream...well at least next to being published. Get it back to the editor pronto! I'll be waiting by the magazine racks. *grin*
...dave
Missouri Gal said…
How exciting about the editor's note! I live in Central MO too so you know how my weather is. COLD but sunny! :-) Stay warm!
Mason Canyon said…
The editor's note sounds promising. Glad you're going to rewrite and submit it again. And have fun with your workshop.

BTW, when you move to Alaska would you look for a place for me too? It's only going to be around the upper 20s for a high here today in Georgia and the wind is blowing like it's trying to get out of Dodge in a hurry. We're not getting into the 50s until Tuesday and then it's going to rain.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Jules said…
Sounds wonderful to me, re-write and re-submit. :)

KY is not much better weather wise and I have to go shovel snow to boot.

Glad you posted a hello I've been wondering where you were :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Hart Johnson said…
Congrats on the revise and resubmit! That's fabulous! In my day job we typically just call that accepted... sort of... but seriously, nobody want anything until they see revisions.

Michigan is as cold as Missouri at the mo... and your seminar sounds very good. The economy has just been SO BAD for SO LONG...
Mary Aalgaard said…
Congrats on that great rejection which is really not a rejection, but an encouragement. That's wonderful. Embrace the voices - who needs therapy for that? Yes, well, read my blog post today, or watch the news. MN is a big cold and snowy right now!!!
Betty Manousos said…
The best of luck with the rewrite/resubmit, dear Teresa.
Congrats on the editor's note.
It's so exciting!

It's cold here, too. I hope Santa do visit you as you've been so good this year. lol!

Stay warm and have a wonderful week ahead!

Big hugs!
B xx
Deb Shucka said…
It's so nice to see you back here. I'm really happy for your personal rejection and the promise of a second read after you've applied the suggestions for improvement. I hope you'll keep us posted.

It's wet and cold here, but only 40 degree cold, not the real kind. Wet enough though that there's lots of river flooding going on.
CM said…
Woo Hoo! Congrats on the handwritten note! That's promising.

Um, I think you already know about our BLIZZARD and the BITTER cold here! I'll join you in Alaska, K?!? I'll have a 2 and a 4 year old in tow, not to mention a hubby, but it'll be fun! :-)
Unknown said…
I would love to attend your seminar and congrats on the offer to rewrite!
Unknown said…
I'm sorry that you're so cold but that's great news about the re-write!
CD
Carol Kilgore said…
Wonderful news about the editor's request! Get going on that rewrite :)

The weather is much warmer in San Antonio. It was 27 Sunday night and will be 72 this afternoon - Tuesday. Come visit!
Naqvee said…
SO editors actually read your stuff and then think for an hour and write back to you and tell you what to do NEXT.. that's so damn ENCOURAGING. of course, your writing style is flawless and captivating but that's what they want from your work though wrapped in a different colored wrapping paper.
New DElhi has toped the recors for having zigzag weather round the year. We live in a burning hell in summers and live in (wet snowless chilly) cold hell in winters.

Just imagine our plight, we live 50 degree celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in summers and now it's 14 degree celsius (57.2 degrees Fahrenheit) but still you can come here
Arlee Bird said…
Of course, here in L.A. it's relatively warm--today in 70s or maybe low 80s. It's supposed to be cooling down in the upcoming week.
The rejection sounds kind of good -- better than not hearing anything or just getting a form letter.
I need to attend one of those seminars like you conducted.

Lee
Tossing It Out
Sharda said…
You can also come to Suriname, there is always warm weather out here;)Best of luck rewriting your little story!
Elana Johnson said…
I hate winter, but it's been mild here. Until today. It snowed. Le sigh.

And hey, rewrite and resubmit! That's exciting news!
I sure call a handwritten not from an editor a reason to rejoice and rewrite!!!

It's icin' outside right now here...uck..I always hope that we keep 'power' during these nasty ice storms!

Ya'll have a truly blessed day!!!
Congratulations. I don’t think I’d call that a rejection. It’s more like an acceptance with conditions.

It’s supposed to be warm here in Southwest Florida, but it’s been cold here, too and I'm tired of it.
Hi Teresa .. knew I was waiting for something .. some of your Arctic snow - are you going to Alaska .. because all the snow's moved east and over the pond? 2nd snow stopper down here - we're just not used to it ..

It is bitter - I might move back to South Africa! for a few months & then come back for our long English summers.

Hope the talk didn't get cancelled .. and brilliant about the interested query .. I certainly don't think that's a rejection - definitely foot in the door stuff.

Cheers .. and hope yo're warm and cozy and not too disrupted this weekend .. Hilary
Devon Ellington said…
Absolutely sit down and rewrite that story iMMEDIATELY. You want to get it back to the editor while it's still fresh in her mind. NO excuses. NO procrastination. Just do it.

You're close to a sale here. Don't get in your own way.

And I hope you had a blast with your workshop!

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